One thing nice about traveling around the world is that it gives you a wider perspective of other LGBT communities, especially if you check out the LGBT museums in other countries.
7 LGBT museums you can visit around the world
Here are seven museums you can check out if you’re in the same country. And if you live in the area but haven’t visited these museums, why haven’t you?
1. The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, New York
Most lists of LGBT museums aren’t complete without the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in Manhattan, New York City.
Operated by the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation, this visual art museum in SoHo has artwork by LGBTQ artists or art about LGBTQ themes, issues, and people.
It has more than 22,000 objects and is recognized as one of the oldest arts groups focusing on gay art. LGBT artists here include Robert Mapplethorpe, Catherine Opie, and David Hockney
2. The GLBT History Museum, San Francisco
Founded by the GLBT Historical Society in 2010, the GLBT History Museum is situated in the Castro District in San Francisco, California
It is regarded as the second, full-scale, stand-alone LGBT history museum in the world.
3. The Schwules Museum, Berlin
If the GLBT History Museum is the second LGBT history museum, the Schwules Museum in Berlin, Germany is regarded as the first gay museum.
Opened in 1985, this museum was originally located above a gay nightclub before it moved to its current location in 2013. Some of its material dates back to 1896.
4. The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, Toronto
A Canadian non-profit organization, the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives reportedly has the largest historical archive in the world taken from LGBTQ communities in Canada and internationally.
5. National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame, Chicago
Established in 2013, this sports hall of fame was set up to honor LGBT and allied sports personalities and organizations.
First set up after Jason Collins became the first openly gay NBA player, this hall of fame is located on the grounds of the Center on Halsted in Chicago, Illinois.
6. The IHLIA LGBT Heritage, Amsterdam
Located in the Public Library Amsterdam in the Netherlands, the International Homo/Lesbian Information center and Archive (IHLIA) was established in 1999.
It houses an international archive of over 100,000 LGBT material– the largest in Europe.
7. The Australian Lesbian and Gay Archive, Melbourne
Founded 1978, the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives (ALGA) is non-profit organisation collecting the LGBT experience in Australia.
Located in South Yarra, it has over 150,000 items in its collection, which makes it the largest in Australia.